Supplements and the Highly Sensitive Person (Episode 122)

I consider myself to be a highly sensitive person – both in terms of my nervous system and in terms of how I respond to changes and substances.  

Two psychologists – Elaine Aron and Arthur Aron – wrote a book called “The Highly Sensitive Person” in the 1990s in which they defined what it is to have a more sensitive emotional response to what is happening around us. 

My definition of a “Highly Sensitive Person”

I have identified a somewhat different version of a highly sensitive person, and as far as I know, I’ve not seen it defined by other practitioners. Often highly sensitive patients are dismissed by their practitioners because they experience every side effect and react to every nutrient, herb, and even energetic treatments.  

Way back when I was experiencing migraines at every turn, and vomiting when I took herbs and nutrients, I realized that my system was more sensitive to everything I tried – medications and natural substances alike. I was also highly reactive to certain foods, chemicals, fragrances, as well as changes in temperature, time zones, blood sugar levels, and lack of sleep. 

To navigate life, let alone healing, with a highly sensitive body and nervous system is extremely challenging. There were many days I felt like throwing in the towel, but where did that leave me? So, I kept on going and figuring it out.  

In the process of figuring out how to live in a highly sensitive body, I became an expert in stress, leaky gut, detoxification, methylation, hormone and neurotransmitter balancing, and quite simply self-care.  

In this episode I share what I’ve found is the most effective way to introduce nutrients, herbs and any other approaches for a person who is highly sensitive. 

I also share why it is so important to identify the highest priority imbalances to address and the most efficient sequence to address them, while avoiding making you feel worse in the process.  

There is a paradox of healing that I identified in the process of healing myself. That paradox is that, especially when our systems and body is completely overwhelmed, it is more effective to use the most subtle, gentle, low dose approaches so as to stay under the radar and shift the vicious cycle.  

Best is to begin with selfC.A.R.E. – clean eating, adequate sleep, recovery activities, and exercise (at your pace) – and to adjust and customize for you. 

If you are struggling to get well, and feeling frustrated that nothing works, or that you often feel worse no matter what you try, then this episode is for you.  

You can also learn more in my book, Master Your Stress, Reset Your Health: 

And start taking action with my 7-day SelfC.A.R.E. Stress Reset: 

The 7-Day Self C.A.R.E. Stress Reset teaches you how to prioritize your self-care. I use the acronym C.A.R.E. in the following way:

C = Clean Eating

A = Adequate Sleep

R = Recovery Activities

E = Exercise

These four Self C.A.R.E. activities can be easily integrated into your daily life as a caregiver to help you become resilient to stress. Sign up here:

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